Preseason Rankings 100-91: Eastern Eagles Hats Off to You

All but one of the schools on this list dreaded the bottom 30 distinction, with the lone exception being my alma mater. That's just the way the cookie crumbles I suppose.

Previous Rankings: 130-121 120-111 110-101
100.)Eastern Michigan
2018 Finish: 73 (7-6, 104.1 WP, 54.8 LP)

Head Coach: Chris Creighton (22-40 overall, 6th Season)

Last Bowl: 2018 Camellia Bowl

Breakdown: The Eagles were oh so close to their first bowl win since 1987, but Georgia Southern knocked through a long-late field goal to come away with the win. That wasn't the only thing EMU lost as top defensive lineman Maxx Crosby declared for the NFL a year early and is now with the Oakland Raiders.

They do however bring back one of the better secondaries in football with three of the five defensive backs returning from a pass defense that ranked third in the nation. That's partly because the run defense was gashed for big chunks, bur despite this fact, they were able to stun Purdue and hold off a late rally by Toledo.

Mike Glass III will be back under center and has a trusty running back in Shaq Vann to go with receivers Matthew Sexton and Arthur Jackson III. The offense may not have put up huge numbers, but they helped keep the turnovers at a minimum and that had EMU T-11 in turnover margin at +10.

Prediction: 6-6

99.)UNLV
2018 Finish: 100 (4-8, 82 WP, 63.5 LP)

Head Coach: Tony Sanchez (16-32 overall, 5th Season)

Last Bowl: 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl

Breakdown: Tony Sanchez is going to start feeling the heat if they don't make some improvements in Las Vegas. Sanchez had never worked at the collegiate level before being hired and so some latitude could be given, but these are now his guys and if they cannot produce, it could be a new coach in 2020.
On a positive note, the Rebels did win two of their final three games including a win over rival Nevada to end the season. They return a healthy Armani Rogers at quarterback, who possess a dual threat, but he'll be without All Mountain-West running back Lexington Thomas, who graduated.

The defense returns five starters, but they'll need to limit scoring opportunities as they were scalded for 37 points (119th) per game last season.

Prediction: 4-8

98.)Oregon State
2018 Finish: 120 (2-10, 88 WP, 56.1 LP)

Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (2-10 overall, 2nd Season)

Last Bowl: 2013 Hawai'i Bowl

Breakdown: The Beavers had another rough year, but showed some promise especially in a comeback overtime win over Colorado. Oregon State will need consistency at the quarterback position as Jake Luton has played just nine games in the past two seasons due to injury. He'll get plenty of help from familiar faces as the Beavers return almost all of their starting skill players.

The defense brings a lot of experience back, but it's more in what not to do as they were the third worst defense in the country.

Prediction: 3-9

97.)Miami (OH)
2018 Finish: 76 (6-6, 76.2 WP, 40.2 LP)

Head Coach: Chuck Martin (22-39 overall, 6th Season)

Last Bowl: 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl

Breakdown: The Redhawks were gifted with Gus Ragland for the past few years, but his graduation has left a gaping hole at the quarterback position to go along with the search for a new feature back. Much like the last couple seasons, Miami was a late bloomer an rallied to win three straight to become bowl eligible. However, there simply were not enough bowl bids for the Redhawks to go bowling.
The defense returns six players from a squad that ranked around the top 50 in most defensive categories. The secondary returns three of those players and looks to improve with Iowa transfer Manny Rugamba.

Prediction: 6-6

96.)SMU
2018 Finish: 91 (5-7, 85.6 WP, 56.3 LP)

Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (5-7, 2nd Season)

Last Bowl: 2017 Frisco Bowl

Breakdown: The Mustangs got off to a rough start going 0-3 before winning five of seven to get within reach of bowl eligibility. Then they dropped the final two, including a head scratcher to Tulsa to miss out. SMU will not miss out on Ben Hicks leaving (transfer to Arkansas) and were gifted graduate transfer Shane Buechele, who was a starter on and off at Texas.

He'll have two high flying targets to find darting across the field in James Proche and Reggie Roberson Jr. The dynamic duo combined for 2,000 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns.

The defense returns eight starters, but they'll have to improve on a dismal 35.3 points per game (110th).

Prediction: 6-6

95.)Illinois
2018 Finish: 105 (4-8, 111.5 WP, 54.4 LP)

Head Coach: Lovie Smith (9-27 overall, 4th Season)

Last Bowl: 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl

Breakdown: Lovie Smith is in one hot seat especially if his defense, which he is the lead coordinator, doesn't improve on its 508 yards allowed per game (which is somehow only the fourth worst). He will have plenty of experience on that side of the ball, as ten starters take their same places.

Offensively, not much returns at the skill position, but the Fighting Illini do have 1,000 rusher, Reggie Corbin, patrolling the backfield once again.

The Illini had some bright spots, including a 55-31 thrashing of Minnesota. They nearly lost to Kent State to start the season and will try and avoid being the third Big Ten team in a row to lose to Eastern Michigan (Rutgers and Purdue).

Prediction: 4-8

94.)Louisville
2018 Finish: 123 (2-10, 126 WP, 45.4 LP)

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield (1st Season)

Last Bowl: 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl

Breakdown: The Cardinals were straight-up dreadful in 2018 after the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. Of course, Jackson couldn't have played defense anyway,when Louisville surrendered 44 points per contest (127th) and 483 yards per game (122nd).

The good news is the returning of 15 starters on offense and defense to help the transition for Scott Satterfield. He only knew success at Appalachian State since they joined the FBS, leading the Mountaineers to at least seven wins every season and four bowl appearances.

Boosters are hoping he can bring that sort of stability to their university that has seen its issues on and off the field.

Prediction: 4-8

93.)Tulane
2018 Finish: 68 (7-6, 84.6 WP, 50.5 LP)

Head Coach: Willie Fritz (16-21 overall, 4th Season)

Last Bowl: 2018 Cure Bowl

Breakdown: Willie Fritz must be licking his chops at the opportunity to get back on the field. After stunning Navy in the final moments to earn a bowl appearance, they stunned everyone by throttling Louisiana in the Cure Bowl.

From that team, Fritz brings back senior quarterback Justin McMillan, senior running back Darius Bradwell, and senior receiver Darnell Mooney. That goes along with the eight defensive starters that ranked in the top 50 against the run.

The Green Wave will look to make their first back-to-back bowl appearances since 1979-1980.

Prediction: 7-5

92.)Louisiana
2018 Finish: 79 (7-7, 102.4 WP, 33.7 LP)

Head Coach: Billy Napier (7-7 overall, 2nd Season)

Last Bowl: 2018 Cure Bowl

Breakdown: The Ragin' Cajuns had a solid season in 2018 including making the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game. They lost that contest to Appalachian State and they dropped their bowl game to Tulane, but it was overall a success for first year coach Billy Napier.

Louisiana returns 13 starters on both side of the ball, but none are more important than play-making running back Trey Ragas. In his first two seasons, he's rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns, helping the run attack rank 22nd in the nation.

The defense needs to make strides defending the run (112th) and not allowing teams to celebrate in their end zone so frequently (105th).

Prediction: 7-5

91.)Arkansas
2018 Finish: 122 (2-10, 125 WP, 52.4 LP)

Head Coach: Chad Morris (2-10 overall, 2nd Season)

Last Bowl: 2016 Belk Bowl

Breakdown: Arkansas fans were thinking it couldn't get worse than Bret Bielema, but Chad Morris gave them a historically bad 2-10 effort in his first year. That included devastating losses to Colorado State and North Texas.

Morris is reunited with former SMU QB, Ben Hicks, who transferred to Arkansas this season. Hicks threw for over 9,000 yards and 71 touchdowns and three seasons for the Mustangs, the first two coached by Morris.

The Razorbacks return six offensive and defensive starters, but they also return one of the great names in football, Bumper Pool. While Pool started just four games, he finished with 29 tackles, a blocked kick, and a fumble recovery while also having the greatest last name.

Prediction: 5-7

Preseason Rankings: 110-101-Enlisting the Service Academies

The rankings roll on as two-thirds of the service academies make an appearance as well as the first two Power 5 schools.

Previous Rankings: 130-121 120-111

110.)Charlotte
2018 Finish: 98 (5-7, 108.4 WP, 74.6 LP)

Head Coach: Will Healy (1st Season)

Last Bowl: None

Breakdown: The 49ers elected to make a coaching change last year after they lost four of their last six to just miss their first bowl appearance. Taking over is former FCS Coach of the Year Will Healy, who lead Austin Peay to their best season in 2017.

The offense was nothing to write home about as Charlotte ranked 115th in total offense. The defense however, was one of the stingiest against the run, allowing just 105 yards per contest (9th). As a unit, they were ranked 22nd in the country in total defense and return eight starters from that squad. They even held Tennessee to just 14 points.

Benny Lemay had a career year last season as he ran for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. He'll have the pleasure once again of running behind All-Conference left tackle, Cameron Clark.

Prediction: 6-6

109.)Rutgers
2018 Finish: 127 (1-11, 127 WP, 45.7 LP)

Head Coach: Chris Ash (7-29 overall, 4th Season)

Last Bowl: 2014 Quick Lane Bowl

Breakdown: Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten things have not gone swimmingly, but that doesn't mean they've just rolled over and died. Despite losing to a MAC school in two straight seasons, and giving Kansas their first win over a Power 5 school in two years, they still showed fight. Ending the season on an 11-game skid, the Scarlet Knights still put scares into Northwestern, Indiana, Penn State, and Michigan State.The pass defense ranked in the top 20, but that's because teams ran all over them.
Leading rusher and receiver, Rahseem Blackshear is back and so is quarterback Art Sitkowski. Sitkowski had the dubious honor of throwing as many interceptions against Maryland (4) as he did touchdowns in the entire season. In fact there were only three games where he did not throw a pick, so hopefully experience sets in and he can help fix the 13.5 points per game (129th) Rutgers averaged last season.

Prediction: 2-10

108.)Colorado State
2018 Finish: 107 (3-9, 88.7 WP, 84.2 LP)

Head Coach: Mike Bobo (24-27 overall, 5th Season)

Last Bowl: 2017 New Mexico Bowl

Breakdown: Last year was a rough one both personally and professionally for head coach Mike Bobo. The offense got off to a fast start as K.J. Carta-Samuels set a school record with 537 yards passing, but as was often the case, the defense allowed too many points (37 per game) and the Rams came up short. They did achieve a win over a Power 5 school as they took advantage of a horrendous Arkansas team.
A good chunk from both the defense and offense will be missing and the offense will have to run through quarterback Collin Hill, who missed all of last year and half of 2017 with an ACL injury. CSU will also be without their leading rusher and two top receivers who all graduated.

Prediction: 4-8

107.)Tulsa
2018 Finish: 113 (3-9, 113 WP, 84.6 LP)

Head Coach: Philip Montgomery (21-29 overall, 5th Season)

Last Bowl: 2016 Miami Beach Bowl

Breakdown: After two successful campaigns under Montgomery, the Golden Hurricane has amassed just five wins in the last two seasons, mostly to a horrendous rushing defense (233 yards per game, 118th) and passing attack (177 YPG, 109th). Hopefully help has arrived in former Baylor starter Zach Smith who sat out last season because of transfer rules.
Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II also return to help anchor one of the better rushing attacks in college football (35th). The defense returns seven starters and hope they can at least duplicate their top ten rush defense and not have the reason be spacious areas for receivers to roam where they please.

Prediction: 3-9

106.)Liberty
2018 Finish: 78 (6-6, 94.8 WP, 70.8 LP)

Head Coach: Hugh Freeze (1st Year)

Last Bowl: None

Breakdown: The first season in the FBS was a moderate success for the Flames. They finished with a .500 record, but two wins came against FCS foes and they split their home-and-home with New Mexico State. Turner Gill stepped down in order to spend more time wife his wife, who has had health concerns in the past few years.
Gill is replaced by Hugh Freeze, who is fresh off his suspension by the NCAA for activities related to inappropriate behavior while serving as the head coach for Ole Miss. Freeze insists his transgressions are in the past, although the folks in Oxford certainly haven't forgiven him, as they are now finally bowl eligible after a two year ban.
Liberty had no issues scoring at 33 points per contest, but the defense allowed 36. Half of the offense and defense return for a solid core, but the Flames will have to win seven games to ensure a shot at a bowl with their less than stellar strength of schedule.

Prediction: 5-7

105.)Navy
2018 Finish: 118 (3-10, 100 WP, 57.3 LP)

Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (87-58 overall, 12th Season)

Last Bowl: 2017 Military Bowl

Breakdown: It was unfamiliar territory in Annapolis, as the Midshipmen finished with a losing record for the first time since 2011 and only the third since 2002 when Paul Johnson initially took the reins before turning the program around. The option did it's job as far as gaining yards, but points where not found quite as often (25 per game, 95th). The defense also made things hard by allowing opponents to get ahead quickly and neutralize the option as they had six game where they gave up at least 35 points.
To make matters worse, they lost to both Air Force and Army, with the Black Knights having turned the tides in the rivalry with three straight victories over Navy.
Overall just five starters return on both sides of the ball. Malcolm Perry returns for one final season under center with just one mission this year, Beat Army.

Prediction: 7-5

104.)Air Force
2018 Finish: 97 (5-7, 105.4 WP, 60.4 LP)

Head Coach:Troy Calhoun (87-67 overall, 13th Season)

Last Bowl: 2016 Arizona Bowl

Breakdown: Things could have gone much differently for the Falcons in 2018 as they suffered five losses by eight points or fewer. Seven starters on each side return, including the thunder and lightning duo of Kade Remsberg and Cole Fagan, who combined to rush for nearly 1,600 yards.

It will be up to Donald Hammond III to conduct the offense and hopefully maintain their spot as one of the top three rushing teams in the country. The defense hopes to be equally stingy against the run as they ranked 15th in the nation.

Prediction: 5-7

103.)Louisiana Monroe
2018 Finish: 77 (6-6, 84.7 WP, 79.5 LP)

Head Coach: Matt Viator (14-22 overall, 4th Season)

Last Bowl: 2012 Independence Bowl

Breakdown: The Warhawks return an important piece in dual-threat quarterback Caleb Evans, who hopes he can get that one win ULM needed in 2018. There were a couple of close calls, but none worse than the three point loss to Louisiana in the final game of the year to end their season.

Six players return on both sides of the ball to bring back some stability, but they'll certainly be focusing on not turning the ball over. For as good as Evans was, he threw 12 interceptions that proved to be the difference in the -12 turnover margin that ranked tied for sixth worst.

Prediction: 5-7

102.)Kansas
2018 Finish: 108 (3-9, 89.7 WP, 53.3 LP)

Head Coach: Les Miles (1st Season)

Last Bowl: 2008 Insight Bowl

Breakdown: The Jayhawks actually made a big stride last year as they won as many games as they had in the previous three combined. All three wins came against FBS schools for once and they could've had more if they hadn't choked away games against FCS Nicholls State, rival Kansas State, and nearly knocked off Texas.

Using this big step, the administration made a huge splash and hired the "Mad Hatter", Les Miles, who won a National Title with LSU in 2007. Miles has his work cut out as only six total starters on both sides of the football returns including running back Pooka Williams Jr.

Williams won the Big 12 Freshman Player of the Year, but shortly after was arrested and charged with domestic battery. He was granted diversion and the charge will be kept off his permanent record, but Miles has yet to allow Williams back onto the team at this point and time.

Prediction: 3-9

101.)Florida Atlantic
2018 Finish: 93 (5-7, 94.2 WP, 53.7 LP)

Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (16-10 overall, 3rd Season)

Last Bowl:2017 Boca Raton Bowl

Breakdown: Lane Kiffin wasn't feeling himself as much in 2018 after a breakout debut in Boca Raton in 2017. His biggest issue in 2019 will be who's going to carry the rock for the Owls? FAU ranked 13th in rushing and 14th in total offense, but have no one with much experience returning. B.J. Emmons transferred from a full backfield in Alabama to join the one-time Crimson Tide offensive coordinator.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Robison would've likely had to shoulder some more burden in the offense this season, but was accused of sexual battery and suspended indefinitely. This follows an already building record as he was kicked out of Oklahoma after being arrested for public intoxication.
Indiana transfer Nick Tronti will likely take the reins, although Justin Agner has seen some time throughout the spring.

Prediction: 4-8